A Place Called Desire Mr. Smith shares his journey documenting the history of the Desire Housing Project’s community through HANO’s photography collection. Discover how these images, combined with oral histories and archival research, helped preserve stories of resilience, community life, and cultural heritage in this historically significant neighborhood.

About the Presenter  Mr. Smith is a guardian of untold stories, weaving together the threads of human experience through his acclaimed work as a Cinematic Historian. As founder of LS3 Studios, he has dedicated his life to illuminating the extraordinary within the ordinary, transforming forgotten family photographs and dusty archives into powerful narratives that resonate across generations. His award-winning documentaries including “A Place Called Desire” capture the intimate poetry of everyday heroes,  while his pioneering approach to cultural preservation combines genealogical expertise with masterful storytelling.

Discovering Josephine  Discover the history of Josephine Buchanan Landry, an African American laundress and cook in New Orleans, Louisiana. Learn how historical records, genealogical research, and social context shaped her family culture, work life, and resilience. In this presentation, Gaynell Brady explores the vital role laundresses played in supporting their families and communities while showcasing key historical records.

About the Presenter Gaynell Brady is an interpreter, educator, and museum professional with a passion for learning, genealogy, and history. As the Owner and Educator at Our Mammy’s LLC, she specializes in teaching others about family history, genealogy, and African American history through engaging, hands-on experiences. With extensive experience at institutions such as the National World War II Museum, the National Park Service, the Louisiana State Museum, and the River Road African American Museum, she brings a wealth of knowledge to her work. Gaynell holds a Bachelor of Arts in History and a Master of Arts in Museum Studies from Southern University at New Orleans and is currently pursuing a PhD.

Uncovering the Past: Plantation History, Enslaved Narratives, and Descendant Research Delve into the critical work of plantation history research, with an emphasis on the documentation of enslaved communities, genealogical connections, and descendant engagement. The session will highlight archival research methods, oral history integration, and strategies for curating accurate, descendant-informed narratives. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how plantation history research reshapes public memory and fosters historical accountability.

About the Presenter Ja’el “YaYa” Gordon is a historian, consultant, and genealogist specializing in antebellum history, genetic genealogy, and descendant research. With over two decades of experience, she interprets difficult histories at plantation sites, documents enslaved persons, and curates historical exhibitions. A contributing writer to ARRAY’s Queen Sugar 101 Learning Companion, she has led groundbreaking research funded by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. A Ph.D. candidate in Higher Education, she is a prominent leader in genealogical and historical preservation efforts.

How Cemetery Destructions Affected Louisiana Law: Is There a Need for More Protection? This presentation reviews over 200 years of the mistreatment of cemeteries in Louisiana. As these sacred sites were impacted by development and neglect, their demise also affected the development of modern law. Drawing on the demise of seven cemeteries—five of them in New Orleans—this presentation follows legislative and court responses as well as what can be learned about the protection of sacred sites both in Louisiana and elsewhere.

About the Presenter Ryan Seidemann specializes in complex interactions of the law and social sciences, focusing on disaster response, mortuary archaeology, and historic preservation. As a lawyer and anthropologist, he has written many of Louisiana’s cemetery protection laws and authored or co-authored more than 100 publications on human remains, cemeteries, and natural resources.